Dia Mirza reveals she was ‘terrified’ to face camera in Sanju after 2-year break

Dia Mirza, who played the role of Maanyata Dutt in Sanju, shared her reasons for stepping away from the screen for a period. “I wanted to portray good characters rather than stereotypical roles,” she said. Dia explained that she wasn’t always satisfied with the scripts she was being offered during that time, which contributed to her limited appearances in films.

The Kaafir actress also shed light on the gender biases prevalent in the film industry. “Female actors are scrutinized at every step after they get married, whereas men rarely face such scrutiny,” she stated. Mirza emphasized that the roles offered to women change significantly post-marriage. “Men were never asked if they would return to work after marriage, but women were almost always asked this question,” she added.

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Despite her fears, Dia was enthusiastic about working again, especially with director Rajkumar Hirani. “I felt my career as an actor would take a new direction with this project,” she expressed. Mirza praised Hirani’s compassionate approach to filmmaking, noting, “He brings out the true potential in actors.”

Dia also looked back fondly on her collaboration with Hirani, remembering her role as Simran in Lage Raho Munna Bhai and now as Maanyata Dutt in Sanju. She said, “My experiences working with Hirani have been wonderful.”

Reflecting on her return to the big screen, Dia concluded, “I had been nervous about facing the camera after a two-year break, but Sanju gave me the confidence I needed.” The actress expressed optimism about the future, saying she hopes to continue growing and evolving both as an actor and a producer.